Clutch control for mangles



Feb. 13, 1934. A LOCK 1,947,156

CLUTCH CONTROL FOR MANGLES Filed April 1952 2 Sheets-Shee t 1 Q I Q R: q Q 1 Invcnlor Feb; 13, 1934. A. GLOCK 1,947,156-

CLUTCH CONTROL FOR MANGLES Filed April 22, 19:52 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor enema cab. 13, 1934 UNlTEo STATES rA'rENr QFFICE As is well known in the art, it is common practice nowadays to drive a mangle or iron fromthe electric motor of an electric washing machine, the drive between the motor of the washing machine and the mangle being controlled by a clutch that is manually operated for cutting oil and resuming the drive as found 'desirable. The difllculty presented is however in the fact that one hand must be occupied for controlling the clutch, leaving only one hand free to guide the cloth, garment or the like pass ing through the mangle with the result that the same is oftendrawn through the mangle at an.

ironing or pressing of the garment.

In accordance with the present invention a device is provided whereby the foot may be utilized for controlling the clutch, the invention comprehendingthe provision of a pedal which angle or in such a manner as to prevent proper may be readily and easily supported on the washing machine and having connections with v the clutch whereby the latter may be and easily actuated for cutting off or i the drive between the motor of the w machine and the mangle and this being accomplished without requiring the use of the hands, leaving them free to guide the article of apparel or the like properly through the mangle.

The invention together with its numerous objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an electric washer, and a mangle, and showing the invention applied thereto.

.Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 2--2 01' Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view, withparts shown-broken away to show the manner of connecting the operating arm with the shitting arm usually provided for the clutch controlling the drive between the motor of the electric washer and the mangle.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a snide plate. Figure 5 is a perspective view of a rod section. and v Figure 6 is a perspective view of a guide equipped bracket. I

Referring more in detail to the drawings it will be seen that 5 designates generally a conventional electric washer which includes among other parts a vertical shaft casing 6; while 7 designates generally a mangle provided with a 5 clutch casing '8 suitably mounted on the upper end of the casing 6, which latter casing houses the shaft (not shown) driven from the motor of the washing machine usually serving to provide drive to the wringer, for which wringer the mangle 7 has been substituted. As intimated the housing 8 encloses the usual clutch controlling drive between the shaft in the housing 6 and the shaft of the mangle 7, said clutch embodying among other parts the operating arm 9 as shown in Figure 3; said arm 9 operating in as a tubular extension 80 having a vertical opening 10 extending therethrough. Usually, a suit- .able handle is engaged with'the arm 9, to be grasped by the operator for shifting the clutch. I However, in accordance with the present invention there is provided a foot pedal 11 fixedly 14 there is provided a plurality of tie rods 16 extending inwardly from the legs 5a of the electric washer and having their inner ends threaded inradial sockets provided in a coupling disk 17. A brace rod 18 has one end provided in a socket of the disk 17 and has the free end thereof coupled through the medium of a turn buckle 19 with a rod section 18a that has its free end formed to engage an aperture in the lower portion of the bracket 14. Bracket 14 is also braced relative to an adjacent leg 5a through the medium or a tie rod 20 as shown clearly in Figures 1 and 2.

The rod 12 is slidable through an aperture provided in one arm of a substantially L-shape guide plate 21 bolted or otherwise secured to the bottom of the casing 6. An'upper rod section 12a is adjustably connected at its lower end with 95 the upper end of the rod section 12 through the medium of a turn buckle 22. At its upper end the rod' section 12a is provided with diverging arms 23 equipped at their free ends with eyes 24.

A substantially L-shaped actuating arm 25 has a threaded end 25a extending through the alined eyes 24 and equipped with lock nuts 26 whereby tosecure the arm 25 at the desired adjustment relative to the rod section 12a. The free end of the arm 25 extends through the opening 10in the clutch housing extension and also through an eye Qaprovided on the outer end of the clutch arm 9. Said last named end of the arm 25 is screw threaded, and has a stop 27 screwed thereon to abut the eye 9a upon downward movement of the arm 25 whereby the clutch arm 9 is operated to engage the clutch. The said free end of the arm 25 is-also provided with upper and lower stop nuts 28 as shown in Figure 3 to limit the upward and downward movement oi the arm 25.

v The pedal 11 is braced relative to the rod section 12 through the medium of a brace rod 29 and the rod section 12 is normally urged upwardly through the medium of a spring 30 en-. gaged at its lower end with the pedal ii, and at its upper end secured to the bracket 14.

From the foregoing it will be seen that with the parts in their normal position, that is in the position shown in the drawings the clutch is released interrupting the drive from the motor of the electric washer 5 to the mangle 7. When ever it is desired to operate the mangle 7 all that is necessary, is to press down on the foot pedal 11 against the action of spring 30 resulting in a downward movement of arm 25 and a rocking of the clutch arm 9 to operate the clutch, and thereby operatively connect the mangle with the motor of the washing machine. When the foot is removed from the pedal ll, the parts automatically return to their normal position interrupting drive between the washer and mangle, so that the mangle is automatically stopped.

Even though I have herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to he understood that the same is mamas susceptible of further changes, modifications and improvements coming within the scope of the appended claims. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a clutch operator of the character described, a sectional rod mounted for vertical movement, and an adjustable connection between the sections of the rod, med guide means in which the rod is operable and thereby constrained to move vertically, angular means adjustably connected with the upper end of the rod and having means for operative connection with a clutch, a pedal on the lower end of said rod, and an elastic connection between said pedal and guide means for normally urging the rod to move vertically upwardly.

2. A clutch operator of the class described comprising, in combination a bracket, adjustable means connected with the. bracket for supporting and bracing the latter with respect to a support, a vertically shii'table rod slidably eneased with the bracket, laterally adjustable means connected with the upnerend of the rod for connecting said rod with the clutch to be controlled thereby, a pedal on the lower end of the rod, and spring means engaged with said bracket and pedal for normally urging the rod upwardly. v

ALEX GLQCK. 

